Differential activation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor downstream signaling pathways by betacellulin and EGF

To determine the downstream signaling pathways regulated by betacellulin (BTC) in comparison with epidermal growth factor (EGF), we used Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing the human EGF receptor (ErbB1/EGFR). The overall time-dependent activation of EGFR autophosphorylation was identical in cells treated with 1 nm BTC or 1.5 nm EGF. Analysis of site-specific EGFR phosphorylation demonstrated that the BTC and EGF tyrosine phosphorylation of Y1086 was not significantly different. In contrast, the autophosphorylation of Y1173 was markedly reduced in BTC-stimulated cells, compared with EGF stimulation that directly correlated with a reduced BTC stimulation of Shc tyrosine phosphorylation, Ras, and Raf-1 activation. On the other hand, Y1068 phosphorylation was significantly increased after BTC stimulation, compared with EGF in parallel with a greater extent of Erk phosphorylation. Expression of a dominant interfering MEK kinase 1 (MEKK1) and Y1068F EGFR more efficiently blocked the enhanced Erk activation by BTC, compared with EGF. Interestingly BTC had a greater inhibitory effect on apoptosis, compared with EGF, and expression of Y1068F EGFR abolished this enhanced inhibitory effect. Together, these data indicated that although BTC and EGF share overlapping signaling properties, the ability of BTC to enhance Erk activation occurs independent of Ras. The increased BTC activation results from a greater extent of Y1068 EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and subsequent increased recruitment of the Grb2-MEKK1 complex to the plasma membrane, compared with EGF stimulation. The increased Erk activation by BTC associated with antiapoptotic function.     

Nuclear localization of epidermal growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptors in human thyroid tissues.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has widespread growth effects, and in some tissues proliferation is associated with the nuclear localization of EGF and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In the thyroid, EGF promotes growth but differs from thyrotropin (TSH) in inhibiting rather than stimulating functional parameters. We have therefore studied the occurrence and cellular distribution of EGF and EGFR in normal thyroid, in Graves' disease, where growth is mediated through the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR), and in a variety of human thyroid tumors. In the normal gland the staining was variable, but largely cytoplasmic, for both EGF and EGFR. In Graves' disease there was strong cytoplasmic staining for both EGF and EGFR, with frequent positive nuclei. Nuclear positivity for EGF and particularly for EGFR was also a feature of both follicular adenomas and follicular carcinomas. Interestingly, nuclear staining was almost absent in papillary carcinomas. These findings document for the first time the presence of nuclear EGF and EGFR in thyroid. Their predominant occurrence in tissues with increased growth (Graves' disease, follicular adenoma, and carcinoma) may indicate that nuclear EGF and EGFR play a role in growth regulation in these conditions. The absence of nuclear EGF and EGFR in papillary carcinomas would suggest that the role played by EGF in growth control differs between papillary carcinoma and follicular adenomas/carcinomas of the thyroid.     

Compartmentalization of signaling-competent epidermal growth factor receptors in endosomes

In this study, the preparation of detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) and the immunoisolation of intracellular vesicles enriched in raft markers were used to investigate the effect of physiological doses of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in vivo on the compartmentalization and activation of EGF receptor (EGFR) in rat liver endosomes. Both of these techniques show that after EGF administration, a distinctive population of intracellular EGFR, which was characterized by a high level of tyrosine phosphorylation, accumulated in endosomes. EGFR recruited to early endosomes were more tyrosine phosphorylated than those from late endosomes. However, the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR in DRMs isolated from early and late endosomes was comparable, suggesting that EGFR in endosomal DRMs are more resistant to tyrosine dephosphorylation. In accordance with the higher level of Tyr phosphorylation, EGF induced an augmented recruitment of Grb2 and Shc to endosomal DRMs compared with whole endosomes. Furthermore, a proteomic analysis identified a selective increase of many alpha-subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins in endosomal DRMs in response to EGF. These observations suggest that a distinctive pool of endocytic EGFR, potentially competent for signaling, is actively trafficking through intracellular compartments with the characteristic of lipid rafts.     

Growth hormone alters epidermal growth factor receptor binding affinity via activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases in 3T3-F442A cells

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane protein that binds EGF in its extracellular domain and initiates signaling via intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity in its cytoplasmic domain. EGFR is important in development, cellular proliferation, and cancer. GH is a critical growthpromoting and metabolic regulatory hormone that binds the GH receptor, thereby engaging various signaling pathways, including ERKs. Prior studies suggest cross-talk between the GH receptor and EGFR signaling systems. Using the GH- and EGF-responsive 3T3-F442A preadipocyte, we previously observed that GH, in addition to causing EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation, also induced EGFR phosphorylation that was detected by PTP101, an antibody reactive with ERK consensus phosphorylation sites. This latter phosphorylation was prevented by pretreatment with MAPK kinase (MEK)1 inhibitors, suggesting ERK pathway dependence. Furthermore, GH cotreatment with EGF markedly slowed EGF-induced EGFR degradation and down-regulation, thereby potentiating EGF-induced EGFR signaling. These effects were also MEK1 dependent and suggested ERK pathway-dependent influence of GH on EGF-induced EGFR postendocytic trafficking and signaling. We now explore the impact of GH on cell surface binding of EGF in 3T3-F442A cells. We found that GH pretreatment caused transient, but substantial, lessening of (125)I-EGF binding. Competitive binding experiments revealed that the decreased binding was primarily due to decreased affinity, rather than a change in the number of EGF binding sites. The effect of GH on EGF binding was concentration dependent and temporally correlated with GH-induced ERK activation and EGFR PTP101-reactive phosphorylation. Blockade of the MEK1/ERK but not the protein kinase C pathway, prevented GH's effects on EGF binding, and our results indicate that the mechanisms of GH- and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetateinduced inhibition of EGF binding differ substantially. Overall, our findings suggest that GH can modulate both EGF binding kinetics and the EGFR's postbinding signaling itinerary in a MEK1/ERK pathway-dependent fashion.     

Progestin-epidermal growth factor regulation of tissue factor expression during decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells

Perivascular decidualized human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) are ideally positioned to prevent peri-implantational hemorrhage during endovascular trophoblast invasion by expressing tissue factor (TF), the primary cellular mediator of hemostasis. Earlier in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated enhanced TF expression in estradiol (E2)-primed HESCs during progestin-induced decidualization. However, the absence of estrogen or progesterone response elements from the TF gene promoter suggests that paracrine factor(s) may mediate these effects. We now demonstrate that significant elevation of TF messenger RNA and protein levels in the cultured HESCs require incubation with both epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) added, with or without E2. By contrast, no effects were elicited by adding EGF with E2, or by the separate additions of EGF, MPA, or E2 plus MPA. Our finding, that transforming growth factor-alpha, but not transforming growth factor-beta or interleukin 1-beta mimics these EGF effects, indicates that progestin-enhanced TF expression in cultured HESCs requires activation of the EGF receptor (EGFR). Western blot analysis indicated that MPA increased EGFR levels 2-to 3-fold in cultured HESCs. The current results suggest that the progestin up-regulation of TF levels in decidualized HESCs is mediated by enhanced EGFR expression.     

Endothelin-mediated vascular growth requires p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase and p70 S6 kinase cascades via transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor peptide, exerts a growth-promoting effect on vascular smooth muscle cells, implicating its pathogenic role in vascular remodeling. To gain insight into the cellular and molecular mechanism whereby ET-1 induces vascular growth, we studied whether transactivation of receptor tyrosine kinases, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor, are required for activation of p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K), and subsequent growth-promotion by ET-1 in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells. Immunoblotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibody revealed that ET-1 rapidly (within 2 min) and transiently induced tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins, among which 180-kDa protein was shown to be EGFR. ET-1 rapidly increased association of EGFR and Shc with glutathione-S-transferase-Grb2 fusion protein. The ET-1-induced activation of MAP kinase was reduced by an EGFR kinase inhibitor (AG1478) but not by a platelet-derived growth factor receptor kinase inhibitor (AG1296). AG1478 dose-dependently decreased ET-1-stimulated MAP kinase activity as well as [3H]leucine and [3H]thymidine uptake. The ET-1-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR, as well as MAP kinase activation, was inhibited by an ETA receptor antagonist and intracellular Ca2+ antagonists but not by an ETB receptor antagonist, pertussis toxin, or protein kinase C inhibitors. In addition, dominant negative mutant of H-Ras and a MAP kinase kinase (MEK-1) inhibitor (PD98059) completely blocked ET-1-induced MAP kinase activation as well as [3H]leucine and [3H]thymidine uptake. Both AG1478 and PD98059 inhibited ET-1-induced phosphorylation and activation of p70S6K. Furthermore, rapamycin, a selective inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin, completely blocked ET-1-stimulated [3H]leucine and [3H]thymidine uptake. These results suggest that ETA receptor-mediated vascular growth by ET-1 requires both MAP kinase and p70S6K cascades mediated partly via Ca2+-dependent EGFR transactivation.     

A variant epidermal growth factor receptor exhibits altered type alpha transforming growth factor binding and transmembrane signaling.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and type alpha transforming growth factor (TGF-alpha) bind to a specific region in subdomain III of the extracellular portion of the EGF receptor (EGFR). Binding leads to receptor dimerization, auto-and transphosphorylation on intracellular tyrosine residues, and activation of signal transduction pathways. We compared the binding and biological actions of EGF and TGF-alpha in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing either wild-type human EGFR (HER497R) or a variant EGFR that has an arginine-to-lysine substitution in the extracellular domain at codon 497 (HER497K) within subdomain IV of EGFR. Both receptors exhibited two orders of binding sites with radioiodinated EGF (125I-EGF). Similar results were obtained with 125I-TGF-alpha in cells expressing HER497R. In contrast, only one order of low-affinity binding sites was seen with 125I-TGF-alpha in the case of HER497K. Although EGF and TGF-alpha enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of both receptors, CHO cells expressing HER497K exhibited an attenuated growth response to EGF and TGF-alpha and a reduced induction of the protooncogenes FOS, JUN, and MYC. Moreover, high concentrations of TGF-alpha (5 nM) inhibited growth in these cells but not in cells expressing HER497R. These findings indicate that a region in subdomain IV of EGFR regulates signal transduction across the cell membrane and selectively modulates that binding characteristics of TGF-alpha.     

Mechanism of biological synergy between cellular Src and epidermal growth factor receptor

Overexpression of both cellular Src (c-Src) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) occurs in many of the same human tumors, suggesting that they may functionally interact and contribute to the progression of cancer. Indeed, in murine fibroblasts, overexpression of c-Src has been shown to potentiate the mitogenic and tumorigenic capacity of the overexpressed EGFR. Potentiation correlated with the ability of c-Src to physically associate with the activated EGFR and the appearance of two unique in vivo phosphorylations on the receptor (Tyr-845 and Tyr-1101). Using stable cell lines of C3H10T½ murine fibroblasts that contain kinase-deficient (K−) c-Src and overexpressed wild-type EGFR, we show that the kinase activity of c-Src is required for both the biological synergy with the receptor and the phosphorylations on the receptor, but not for the association of c-Src with the receptor. In transient transfection assays, not only epidermal growth factor but also serum- and lysophosphatidic acid-induced DNA synthesis was ablated in a dominant-negative fashion by a Y845F mutant of the EGFR, indicating that c-Src-induced phosphorylation of Y845 is critical for the mitogenic response to both the EGFR and a G protein-coupled receptor (lysophosphatidic acid receptor). Unexpectedly, the Y845F mutant EGFR was found to retain its full kinase activity and its ability to activate the adapter protein SHC and extracellular signal-regulated kinase ERK2 in response to EGF, demonstrating that the mitogenic pathway involving phosphorylation of Y845 is independent of ERK2-activation. The application of these findings to the development of novel therapeutics for human cancers that overexpress c-Src and EGFR is discussed.     

Differential inhibition of epidermal growth factor signaling pathways in rat hepatocytes by long-term ethanol treatment

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Long-term ethanol intake suppresses liver regeneration in vivo and ethanol interferes with epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced DNA synthesis in vitro. Therefore, the effects of long-term ethanol treatment on EGF-activated signaling reactions in rat hepatocytes were investigated. METHODS: Hepatocytes from long-term ethanol-fed rats and pair-fed controls were stimulated with EGF (0.5-20 nmol/L) for 15-120 seconds. Tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF receptor (EGFR), Shc, and phospholipase-C gamma1 (PLC gamma), and growth factor receptor binding protein 2 (Grb2) coprecipitation with EGFR and Shc were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: EGFR autophosphorylation was suppressed at all EGF concentrations in ethanol-fed cells compared with pair-fed cells, without significant differences in total EGFR protein or EGFR tyrosine kinase activity detected in cell lysates, suggesting that intracellular factors suppressed EGFR function. EGF- induced PLC gamma tyrosine phosphorylation and inositol 1,4,5- trisphosphate (InsP3) formation were suppressed, but cytosolic [Ca2+]c elevation was little affected, indicating enhanced InsP3-mediated intracellular Ca2+ release in ethanol-fed cells. Grb2 binding to EGFR was suppressed, but EGF-induced Shc tyrosine phosphorylation and Grb2 association with Shc were not significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term ethanol feeding suppressed EGF-induced receptor autophosphorylation in rat hepatocytes with differential inhibition of downstream signaling processes mediated by PLC gamma, Shc, and Grb2. Altered patterns of downstream signals emanating from EGFR may contribute to deficient liver regeneration in chronic alcoholism. (Gastroenterology 1997 Jun;112(6):2073-88)     

Estrogen signaling via a linear pathway involving insulin-like growth factor I receptor, matrix metalloproteinases, and epidermal growth factor receptor to activate mitogen-activated protein kinase in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

We present an integrated model of an extranuclear, estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha)-mediated, rapid MAPK activation pathway in breast cancer cells. In noncancer cells, IGF-I initiates a linear process involving activation of the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), release of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), and activation of EGF receptor (EGFR)-dependent MAPK. 17beta-Estradiol (E2) rapidly activates IGF-IR in breast cancer cells. We hypothesize that E2 induces a similar linear pathway involving IGF-IR, MMP, HB-EGF, EGFR, and MAPK. Using MCF-7 breast cancer cells, we for the first time demonstrated that a sequential activation of IGF-IR, MMP, and EGFR existed in E2 and IGF-I actions, which was supported by evidence that the selective inhibitors of IGF-IR and MMP or knockdown of IGF-IR all inhibited E2- or IGF-I-induced EGFR phosphorylation. Using the inhibitors and small inhibitory RNA strategies, we also demonstrated that the same sequential activation of the receptors occurred in E2-, IGF-I-, but not EGF-induced MAPK phosphorylation. Additionally, a HB-EGF neutralizing antibody significantly blocked E2-induced MAPK activation, further supporting our hypothesis. The biological effects of sequential activation of IGF-IR and EGFR on E2 stimulation of cell proliferation were also investigated. Knockdown or blockade of IGF-IR significantly inhibited E2- or IGF-I-stimulated but not EGF-induced cell growth. Knockdown or blockade of EGFR abrogated cell growth induced by E2, IGF-I, and EGF, indicating that EGFR is a downstream molecule of IGF-IR in E2 and IGF-I action. Together, our data support the novel view that E2 can activate a linear pathway involving the sequential activation of IGF-IR, MMP, HB-EGF, EGFR, and MAPK.     

Platelet-derived growth factor mimics phorbol diester action on epidermal growth factor receptor phosphorylation at threonine-654.

Addition of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) to quiescent WI-38 human fetal lung fibroblasts mimics the effect of tumor-promoting phorbol diesters to inhibit the high-affinity binding of 125I-labeled epidermal growth factor (125I-EGF). PDGF, like phorbol diesters, was found to increase the phosphorylation state of EGF receptors immunoprecipitated from intact fibroblasts that were labeled to equilibrium with [32P]phosphate. Phosphoamino acid analysis of the EGF receptors indicated that both PDGF and phorbol diesters increased the level of [32P]phosphoserine and [32P]phosphothreonine. Phosphopeptide mapping of the EGF receptor demonstrated that PDGF increased the phosphorylation of several sites and induced the phosphorylation of a site that was not observed to be phosphorylated on EGF receptors isolated from control cells. This latter phosphorylation site on the EGF receptor was identified as threonine-654, previously shown to be phosphorylated in response to phorbol diesters in intact cells or by purified protein kinase C in vitro. Further, it was observed that PDGF mimicked the action of phorbol diesters to inhibit the EGF-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor in [32P]phosphate-labeled fibroblasts. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that increases in diacylglycerol and Ca2+ levels caused by addition of PDGF to fibroblasts activate protein kinase C and that this kinase, at least in part, mediates the effect of PDGF on the phosphorylation of the EGF receptor. The data further suggest that protein kinase C may play an important role in the regulation of cellular metabolism and proliferation by PDGF.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor ligands are chemoattractants for normal human mesothelial cells.

Signalling through epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor leads to several cellular responses including cell division and cell migration. Since EGF receptors are expressed on normal mesothelial cells, this study investigated whether EGF receptor ligands act as chemoattractants on these cells. The study used Boyden chambers fitted with filters coated with the adhesive matrix proteins fibronectin, laminin, collagen type IV and the nonmatrix adhesive molecule poly-L-lysine, for the migration studies. Normal mesothelial cells migrated to EGF receptor ligands such as EGF, transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) at concentrations ranging 0.024-100 ng x mL(-1) (with a peak stimulation at 6.25 ng x mL(-1)), if matrix proteins were present as adhesive substrates. This migration was integrin-dependent, since the same cells failed to migrate in the absence of extracellular matrix molecules or when the Boyden chamber assay was performed in the presence of anti-beta1 integrin monoclonal antibodies. These findings describe for the first time epidermal growth factor receptor ligands acting as chemoattractants on normal mesothelial cells, and that signalling through epidermal growth factor receptors leading to mesothelial cell migration also requires the activation of integrins.     

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor and ErbB signaling is essential for heart function

The heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a member of the EGF family of growth factors that binds to and activates the EGF receptor (EGFR) and the related receptor tyrosine kinase, ErbB4. HB-EGF-null mice (HB(del/del)) were generated to examine the role of HB-EGF in vivo. More than half of the HB(del/del) mice died in the first postnatal week. The survivors developed severe heart failure with grossly enlarged ventricular chambers. Echocardiographic examination showed that the ventricular chambers were dilated and that cardiac function was diminished. Moreover, HB(del/del) mice developed grossly enlarged cardiac valves. The cardiac valve and the ventricular chamber phenotypes resembled those displayed by mice lacking EGFR, a receptor for HB-EGF, and by mice conditionally lacking ErbB2, respectively. HB-EGF-ErbB interactions in the heart were examined in vivo by administering HB-EGF to WT mice. HB-EGF induced tyrosine phosphorylation of ErbB2 and ErbB4, and to a lesser degree, of EGFR in cardiac myocytes. In addition, constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation of both ErbB2 and ErbB4 was significantly reduced in HB(del/del) hearts. It was concluded that HB-EGF activation of receptor tyrosine kinases is essential for normal heart function.     

Phosphorylation process induced by epidermal growth factor alters the oncogenic and cellular neu (NGL) gene products.

The rat neu oncogene encodes a cell surface glycoprotein, p185, that possesses tyrosine kinase activity. The p185 polypeptide exhibits structural similarity to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) at both the deduced amino acid and nucleic acid level. However, the neu oncogene and the gene encoding the EGFR have been shown to reside on distinct chromosomes. Comparative analysis of the sequences of the normal neu cDNA and of the neu cDNA from neuroblastomas has revealed a single point mutation leading to a valine-to-glutamic acid substitution in the transmembrane anchoring domain. This mutation converts the neu gene to a transforming gene in rodents. In humans, the gene is called ERBB2 (also NGL and HER2), and amplification and over-expression of its products have been detected in certain tumors. The rat embryonal fibroblast cell line (Rat-1) appears to express both EGFR and cellular p185 polypeptides. We have found that EGF stimulates the phosphorylation of p185 in these cells at tyrosine as well as serine and threonine residues in a specific and dose-dependent manner. This activity occurs even though radiolabeled EGF cannot bind to immunopurified p185. The EGF effect is apparently unique since platelet-derived growth factor, insulin, and transforming growth factor beta all fail to phosphorylate p185 at tyrosine. The EGF-induced effect requires interaction of the EGFR and its cognate ligand because cell lines that lack EGFR cannot be shown to phosphorylate p185, even when exposed to large amounts of EGF. Oncogenic rodent p185 and the human p185 homologue ERBB2 that is overexpressed in human breast tumor cells also can be shown to become phosphorylated on tyrosine residues by the action of EGF. Collectively, these data demonstrate that EGF mediates phosphorylation of p185 at tyrosine as well as serine/threonine through cellular kinases by a receptor-specific mechanism.     

Insulin growth factor-I and epidermal growth factor receptors recruit distinct upstream signaling molecules to enhance AKT activation in mammary epithelial cells

IGF-I and epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulate both normal mammary epithelial cell (MEC) growth and tumorigenesis. Whereas both growth factors increase DNA synthesis in MECs, how they evoke a greater response in combination when they activate similar signaling pathways remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the signaling pathways by which these mitogens act in concert to increase DNA synthesis. Only EGF activated the MAPK pathway, and no further increase in MAPK activation was observed when both mitogens were added together. Both growth factors activated the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase pathway, and simultaneous treatment enhanced phosphorylation of both AKT and its downstream target, p70S6K. The enhanced activation of AKT was observed at multiple time points (5 and 15 min) and growth factor concentrations (2.5-100 ng/ml). IGF-I activated AKT via insulin receptor substrate-1 and p85, the regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase. Treatment with EGF had no effect on insulin receptor substrate-1; however, it activated the EGF receptor, SHC, and c-Src. EGF treatment caused the association of SHC with Grb2 and Gab2 with phospho-SHC, phospho-Gab1, Grb2, and p85. Interestingly, inhibition of Src activation blocked the ability of EGF, but not IGF-I, to activate AKT. This corresponded with a decrease in phosphorylation of the EGF receptor and its association with phospho-SHC as well as downstream signaling. Unexpectedly, inhibition of Src increased basal MAPK activation. This is the first study to show that EGF and IGF-I use separate upstream components within a given MEC line to enhance AKT phosphorylation, contributing to increased DNA synthesis.     

Epidermal growth factor-induced nuclear factor kappa B activation: A major pathway of cell-cycle progression in estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer cells

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of receptors (EGFR) is overproduced in estrogen receptor (ER) negative (-) breast cancer cells. An inverse correlation of the level of EGFR and ER is observed between ER- and ER positive (+) breast cancer cells. A comparative study with EGFR-overproducing ER- and low-level producing ER+ breast cancer cells suggests that EGF is a major growth-stimulating factor for ER- cells. An outline of the pathway for the EGF-induced enhanced proliferation of ER- human breast cancer cells is proposed. The transmission of mitogenic signal induced by EGF-EGFR interaction is mediated via activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB). The basal level of active NF-kappaB in ER- cells is elevated by EGF and inhibited by anti-EGFR antibody (EGFR-Ab), thus qualifying EGF as a NF-kappaB activation factor. NF-kappaB transactivates the cell-cycle regulatory protein, cyclin D1, which causes increased phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein, more strongly in ER- cells. An inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase, Ly294-002, blocked this event, suggesting a role of the former in the activation of NF-kappaB by EGF. Go6976, a well-characterized NF-kappaB inhibitor, blocked EGF-induced NF-kappaB activation and up-regulation of cell-cycle regulatory proteins. This low molecular weight compound also caused apoptotic death, predominantly more in ER- cells. Thus Go6976 and similar NF-kappaB inhibitors are potentially novel low molecular weight therapeutic agents for treatment of ER- breast cancer patients.     

Analysis of receptor signaling pathways by mass spectrometry: identification of vav-2 as a substrate of the epidermal and platelet-derived growth factor receptors

Oligomerization of receptor protein tyrosine kinases such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by their cognate ligands leads to activation of the receptor. Transphosphorylation of the receptor subunits is followed by the recruitment of signaling molecules containing src homology 2 (SH2) or phosphotyrosine interaction domains (PID). Additionally, several cytoplasmic proteins that may or may not associate with the receptor undergo tyrosine phosphorylation. To identify several components of the EGFR signaling pathway in a single step, we have immunoprecipitated molecules that are tyrosine phosphorylated in response to EGF and analyzed them by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry. Combining matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and nanoelectrospray tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) led to the identification of nine signaling molecules, seven of which had previously been implicated in EGFR signaling. Several of these molecules were identified from low femtomole levels of protein loaded onto the gel. We identified Vav-2, a recently discovered guanosine nucleotide exchange factor that is expressed ubiquitously, as a substrate of the EGFR. We demonstrate that Vav-2 is phosphorylated on tyrosine residues in response to EGF and associates with the EGFR in vivo. Binding of Vav-2 to the EGFR is mediated by the SH2 domain of Vav-2. In keeping with its ubiquitous expression, Vav-2 seems to be a general signaling molecule, since it also associates with the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor and undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation in fibroblasts upon PDGF stimulation. The strategy suggested here can be used for routine identification of downstream components of cell surface receptors in mammalian cells.